Aren't We Clever

Sam Eubank: Man-About-Town

(Kinda, Sorta, Not Really)

My week started this past Tuesday, August tres. I hadn't gone out the night before to indulge in liquids at any of the local watering holes, so I was feeling semi-well-rested as I rose to the nine-o-clock hour to get ready for work. It's actually more stressful than it sounds. It was the big Tuesday. Just about everyone I knew as well as their mothers were heading to the Lady Gaga concert on this eve of the third of August. Alas, I had no ticket and was giving myself every excuse as to why it was a good thing I was not attending said concert for the night.

Halfway through my shift at work I received a text from Creative Genius, Zac Eubank touting a ticket his friend was trying to exchange for cash. I jokingly quipped that should he spot me the dough, I would gladly take the ticket out of his friend's (more than likely) thoroughly bummed-out hands. Thinking nothing of it, privy to Zac Eubank's normal behavior of not loaning me money and also me not ever inquiring to do so, I went about my work. Shortly after, I received a response that said I was now in possession of a pass to the show. Henceforth, I was now in debt to a Creative Genius. You have no idea how much that blows. However, I took this minor hurdle, tripped over it into a pool of water, got up and continued trucking. This was going to be an awesome night, and I had a front row voucher to the Monster Ball... with-my-by-myself.

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous as I stood in the thousand degree heat outside Kansas City's Sprint Center surrounded by young children, their clueless unsuspecting parents, and people who unsuccessfully tried to pull off a Gaga outfit. Kudos for having no shame though. I would, at this time, like to give a huge 'thank you' and shout-out to the Red Bull girls. You always know exactly when to make an appearance and calm my never-resting nerves. Two hours and three Red Bulls down the hatch, the line began moving.

As I was admitted entrance to le Sprint Centre I was fastened with band declaring I was in fact V.I.P. This allowed me passage through the gates and past scowling ticket-checker-people leading me right up to the stage. Que!?! I was right up against the stage (or at least the barricade encompassing the performance area to keep the crazies at bay.) As tech specs were finalized and almost even before people began shuffling in, Lady Gaga's friend Lady Starlight took to the stage and began taking shots of whiskey and jamming to classic rock. Out of nowhere, at the corner of the stage, Gaga herself peeped out for a split second to grab/shake a few hands. Luckily, my mongoose-like reflexes already had an Aren't We Clever card in hand and slipped it into hers as she passed. It was better than any drug deal could have gone, and the card probably ended up on the floor or in someone else's hand and then on the floor. But, there could be an Aren't We Clever card in the trash can of Lady Gaga's dressing room or tour bus. Score!

Time passed (three beers, so I'm guessing roughly forty-five minutes) and the complex was beginning to fill. Soon the lights went down and the opening band pranced onto the stage. Semi Precious Weapons was alright. I'd had enough to drink for me to slightly enjoy them, but it really wasn't my cup of vodka infused tea. They really talked-up Lady Gaga prior to her performance though and managed to make the crowd scream every time they mentioned her name.

When the time came and the lights came-up to reveal a set similar to that of RENT (though I've never seen the play or the really bad movie, but somehow have an instinctual feeling that it was similar to that set.) She was finally on. Looking back, the night was somewhat a blur of awesomeness. There was a car that's hood opened up to transform into a piano... which she then lit on fire. There were flashing lights and images projected on a giant screen and at one point I swear she was going to tell us to drink the punch. And I'm pretty sure every single person would have. She ended the show with the most awesome thing I'd ever seen at a concert. It happened to be ginormous monster that was cross between anoplogaster cornuta and a giant squid. There were puppeteers controlling it's tentacles, and I almost completely disregarded her show mesmerized by the colossal puppet.

The show concluded, and I mentally scored it with an 'A' rating. After parties began and the night faded into sleep and work the next day.

Wednesday night our surrogate sister came to K.C. to sojourn in the Aren't We Clever house. The next morning, t-shirts were made and tested with a new screen printing kit. Needless to say, Mary finally got her Aren't We Clever t-shirt. We dropped her off at the airport, and she is now skipping around San Francisco and telling everyone she knows about our business. Thanks Mary!

That night, I met up with my friend from work and we our first ever Passion's party. Is it scary to say that nothing really shocked me that much. I did get to sample... some of the edible lotions, lubes and talc powders. I can't really image ever wanting to apply any of them to myself to sample them from... well, never mind. I won't get into gory details, but the Japanese have a very clever way of putting an Inuit and beaver together and making it appeal to women. A bullet is just like a Mexican jumping bean. Why would you ever want to stick that there? Is that candle wax really edible after you pour it on someone? Why would I want to stick this gummy, plastic, elastic "toy" anywhere when it's smiling at me? Time to hit the bars.

This morning the Aren't We Clever team assembled and hit the job site filming a commercial for YourTel America in partnership with 385 Talent Agency. The shots turned out really nice, and we're looking forward to what we come up with. You should too!

The photos that I took for the Unicorn Theatre are now on their website. You can see them by clicking on THIS LINK and then clicking on the link for their current show. Scrolling down that page will show you all the photos that will be featured in their brochure. I'm looking forward those being released soon.

It's 8:45 and K.C. is calling, so I've got to get prepared for the night and head out. The Creative Messiah will be on the streets tonight.

Welp, see you later.